Toss game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A toss game apparatus is disclosed. The toss game apparatus includes first and second target platforms, each first and second target platform including a top portion, two end portions and two lateral portions, and a means for joining the first and second target platforms at variable distances one from the other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to toss games and moreparticularly to a toss game apparatus having a means for joining a pairof apertured target platforms at variable distances one from the other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toss games are well known in the art and generally comprise a pair ofrectangular target platforms having a plurality of apertures formedtherethrough. The rectangular target platforms are placed a distanceapart and players attempt to toss rings or other objects through theapertures in order to score points.

One such toss game is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,161. The gameconsists of two platforms with three circular holes in each platform.These platforms are joined together with a chain or other linkage at afixed distance. A player stands on top the platform at the end where thelinkage is fastened. This player will toss, pitch or lob a disc towardsthe other platform trying to hit one of the holes. Each hole is worth aparticular number of points. Generally a player who scores the first 21points wins the game. The linkage is of a fixed ten foot chain or otherlinkage. No provision for storing the linkage is shown or suggested.

A pitch game is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,590 and includes twomulti apertured rectangular platforms. Colored apertured discprojectiles are supplied in sets of six, one set for each player. Aplayer stands on the edge of one platform and tosses discs in an attemptto drop them through one of the apertures in the second platform. Theapertures are scored one, two, three according to a distance away fromthe thrower. Separable hinges and latches are included for attaching thetwo rectangular platforms together into a storage or carrying case. Thetwo rectangular platforms are not nestably stackable.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,480 discloses a toss game apparatus for alternateuse as a target for thrown projectiles or as a support for supporting anindividual playing the toss game and includes a frame and a top panelmounted on the frame and deflectable relative to the frame. Interiorsupport member attached to the top panel limit the degree of deflectionof the top panel. Carpeting is positioned on the top panel having anupper layer of upwardly projecting fabric fibers angles toward one ofthe frame ends. The frames are not nestably stackable.

A tossing game and method of play is disclosed in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2004/0108658. Two or more players compete bytossing rings toward a target structure whereby points are accumulated.Each target structure is elongate and has a first upper surface portionupon which a player may stand while tossing rings toward an opposingstructure, and a second upper surface portion defining a plurality oflongitudinally aligned ring-receiving bores. The target structures arenot nestably stackable.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0227284 discloses a disktossing game including a target surface, a plurality of tossing disks,and a scoring peg. In a preferred method of play, each player tossesthree rings onto the target surface. The toss is scored according to thelanding position of the rings and the scoring position of the scoringpeg. The target surfaces are not nest-able stackable.

The prior art toss game apparatus suffer the disadvantage of notproviding a means for joining the apertured platforms at variabledistances one from the other. Additionally, the prior art toss gameapparatus provide for generally rectangular target platforms havinghorizontal upper surfaces which limit a player's view of the apertureswhen the target platforms are spaced far apart. Prior art toss gamesapparatus further are not conveniently stackable.

What is needed is a toss game apparatus that overcomes the disadvantagesof the prior art. What is further needed is a toss game apparatusincluding a means for joining the apertured target platforms at variabledistances one from the other. What is also needed is a toss gameapparatus having an inclined upper surface. What is also needed is atoss game apparatus that is nestably stackable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art byproviding a toss game apparatus including a means for joining a pair oftarget platforms at variable distances one from the other. A firsttarget platform may include a locking device for locking a rope atvariable positions along a rope attached to a second target platform.The target platforms may include a top portion defining an inclined topsurface. The top portion may be supported by a pair of lateral portionsand a pair of end portions. The end portions may be of different heightsto thereby provide for the inclined top surface.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a toss game apparatusincludes first and second target platforms, each first and second targetplatform comprising a top portion, first and second end portions and twolateral portions depending from the top portion, and a means for joiningthe first and second target platforms at variable distances one from theother.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a toss gameapparatus having an inclined top portion includes first and secondtarget platforms, each first and second target platform comprising a topportion having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, first andsecond end portions and two lateral portions depending from the topportion, the first and second end portions being of unequal heights toprovide the inclined top portion, and a means for joining the first andsecond target platforms at variable distances one from the other.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a toss gameapparatus includes first and second target platforms, each first andsecond target platform comprising a top portion, first and second endportions and two lateral portions depending from the top portion, thefirst and second end portions being of unequal heights to provide aninclination to the top portion, and a locking device disposed on thefirst target platform, the locking device lockingly engaging a linkagebetween the first and second target platforms.

There has been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features ofthe invention in order that the detailed description thereof thatfollows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described below andwhich will form the subject matter of the claims appended herein.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure may be better understood and its numerousfeatures and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art byreferencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a target platform in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a pair of target platforms inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a first target platform inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a second target platform inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the target platforms in a stackedconfiguration in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the first target platform in accordance withthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The toss game apparatus of the present invention by providing a tossgame apparatus including a means for joining the apertured targetplatforms at variable distances one from the other. Additionally thetoss game apparatus of the present invention includes an inclined uppersurface. Furthermore the toss game apparatus of the present invention isnestably stackable.

To achieve these purposes, a first target platform may include a lockingdevice for locking a rope, cable or other linkage at variable positionsalong the rope, cable or other linkage. An end of the rope, cable orother linkage may be attached to a second target platform. The targetplatforms may include a top portion defining an inclined top surface.The top portion may be supported by a pair of lateral portions and apair of end portions depending therefrom. The pair of lateral portionsmay be of quadrilateral configuration. The pair of end portions may beof trapezoidal configuration. This configuration provides for an openbottom portion of greater area than the top portion to thereby providefor the nest-ability of the target platforms. The end portions may be ofdifferent heights to thereby provide for the inclined top surface.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a toss game apparatus generally designated100 may include first and second target platforms 105 and 110respectively. First and second target platforms 105 and 110 may beidentical in all respects with the exception that first target platform105 may include a locking device 115 whereas second target platform 110does not include the locking device 115.

Each of first and second target platforms 105 and 110 may include a topportion 120 having formed therethrough a plurality of apertures 125(FIG. 1). Apertures 125 may be sized and configured to receiveconventional game pieces (not shown) which may be received therethrough.Such game pieces may include washers, bean bags and the like. Topportion 120 may include a top surface 127 which may be inclined relativeto a surface upon which the first and second target platforms 105 and110 are disposed such as the ground (not shown). Top surface 127 may becovered by a surface such as a Astroturf, carpet, foam or plasticsheeting. Top surface 127 may be inclined by virtue of a first endportion 130, which may be of trapezoidal shape, having a lesser heightthan a second end portion 135, which may be of trapezoidal shape.

Lateral portions 140 may depend from the top portion 120 and, togetherwith first and second end portions 130 and 135, form an enclosure 150for accommodating cups 185 formed below the apertures 125. First andsecond end portions 130 and 135 respectively may depend from the topportion 120 at an angle of between 10 to 15 degrees relative to vertical(FIG. 3B). Lateral portions 140 depend from the top portion 120 at anangle dependent upon the angles defining the trapezoidal shape of thefirst and second end portion 130 and 135 which may include an obtuseangle of between 10 to 15 degrees.

A means for joining the first and second target platforms 105 and 110 atvariable distances one from the other may include a linkage 160 whichmay extend between the first and second target platforms 105 and 110.Preferably linkage 160 includes a rope or cable having markings 170disposed along a length thereof. Markings 170 may be color coded toindicate a plurality of levels of play. Linkage 160 may be attached tothe second target platform 110 in a conventional manner such as byinserting the linkage 160 through a hole 165 formed in the first endportion 130 of the second target platform 110 and securing the linkagein the enclosure 150.

The locking device 115 may be disposed in a hole 167 formed in the firstend 130 of the first target platform 105. Locking device 115 may beoperable to lock the linkage 160 in place at variable locations alongthe length of the linkage 160 such as at markings 170. In this manner,the distance between the first and second target platforms 105 and 110may be variably set. The locking device 115 may include a locking collarsuch as locking collar CD13NA-FE available from Sealcon USA.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, the first and second targetplatforms 105 and 110 may be nestably stacked for easy transport andstorage and a shortened linkage 160 may be conveniently used as ahandle. A tube 180 (FIG. 5) may be disposed within target platform 105in communication with locking device 115 to receive a length of thelinkage 160 when the toss game apparatus 100 is stored as shown in FIG.4.

In use, the toss game apparatus may be used to play an exemplary washertoss game. The target platforms 105 and 110 may be disposed at a spacedapart distance one from the other depending upon the skill level of thegame players. The locking device 115 may be used to lock the linkage 160at the desired distance to ensure continuity of the game. Such distancemay be indicated by markings 170. Game pieces may be tossed at theapertures 125 by the players. Cups 185 may be disposed beneath theapertures 125 in enclosure 150 to receive any game pieces thrown throughthe apertures 125. Cups may be of conventional design including meshmaterial cups. Scoring may be kept in a conventional manner.

The toss game apparatus of the present invention provides a toss gameapparatus having a means for joining the apertured target platforms atvariable distances one from the other. Additionally the toss gameapparatus of the present invention includes an inclined upper surfaceproviding a more visible target to the game players. Furthermore thetoss game apparatus of the present invention is nestably stackable foreasy transportation and storage.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates topreferred embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A toss game apparatus comprising: first and second target platforms, each first and second target platform comprising a top portion, first and second end portions and two lateral portions depending from the top portion; and a means for joining the first and second target platforms at variable distances one from the other.
 2. The toss game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for joining the first and second target platforms at variable distances one from the other comprise a locking device disposed on the first target platform, the locking device lockingly engaging a linkage between the first and second target platforms.
 3. The toss game apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a tube in communication with the locking device, the tube being sized and configured to receive the linkage.
 4. The toss game apparatus of claim 2, wherein the linkage comprises a rope.
 5. The toss game apparatus of claim 2, wherein the linkage comprises a cable.
 6. The toss game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end portion has a smaller height than the second end portion.
 7. The toss game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second end portions are trapezoidal in shape.
 8. The toss game apparatus of 7, wherein the first and second end portions depend at an obtuse angle from the top portion.
 9. The toss game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top portion comprises a plurality of apertures.
 10. The toss game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top portion comprises a top surface.
 10. The toss game apparatus of claim 10, wherein the top surface comprises Astroturf.
 11. A toss game apparatus having an inclined top portion comprising: first and second target platforms, each first and second target platform comprising a top portion having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, first and second end portions and two lateral portions depending from the top portion, the first and second end portions being of unequal heights to provide the inclined top portion; and a means for joining the first and second target platforms at variable distances one from the other.
 12. The toss game apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for joining the first and second target platforms at variable distances one from the other comprise a locking device disposed on the first target platform, the locking device lockingly engaging a linkage between the first and second target platforms.
 13. The toss game apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a tube in communication with the locking device, the tube being sized and configured to receive the linkage.
 14. The toss game apparatus of claim 12, wherein the linkage comprises a rope.
 15. The toss game apparatus of claim 12, wherein the linkage comprises a cable.
 16. A toss game apparatus comprising: first and second target platforms, each first and second target platform comprising a top portion, first and second end portions and two lateral portions depending from the top portion, the first and second end portions being of unequal heights to provide an inclination to the top portion; and a locking device disposed on the first target platform, the locking device lockingly engaging a linkage between the first and second target platforms.
 17. The toss game apparatus of claim 16, wherein the top portion comprises a plurality of apertures.
 18. The toss game apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a tube in communication with the locking device, the tube being sized and configured to receive the linkage.
 19. The toss game apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second end portions depend at an obtuse angle from the top portion.
 20. The toss game apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second end portions are trapezoidal in shape. 